Oden will work as a student manager with the Buckeyes while taking classes at Ohio State. Watch video

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Greg Oden was always pretty visible when he was at Ohio State basketball games last year. Even with a ball cap pulled down low over his face, you knew it was Oden seated a row or two behind the Buckeyes' bench.

Now, if things hold to plan, Oden's seat will be on the bench.

Oden is working as a student manager while he takes classes at Ohio State this summer. That manager title was officially confirmed by the school this week. Before that the plan was for Oden to spend some time with the team when he could, as he has over the years since becoming the No. 1 overall pick in the NBA Draft in 2007. Now he has the manager title and all that comes with it.

"Just as long as he can get my coffee on time, make sure that things are set up for practice," Thad Matta joked on Thursday.

This is much more than a novelty for Matta. While most will add it to the "mighty have fallen" narrative of Oden's basketball career, Matta sees this as something much more.

"I want Greg Oden around here," Matta said. "I go back to when I first started here, and the first guys I went to see on July 8 were Greg Oden, Mike Conley and Daequan Cook. You think back to where the program was at that point, and the chance that a guy like Greg took to come to Ohio State. I'm obviously indebted to him for the rest of my life."

This actually coincidentally meshes with Matta's off-season message of having people at Ohio State who want to be there. The Buckeyes lost four transfers -- three from out of state -- hired back Chris Jent as an assistant coach and now have Oden back with a greater presence.

How do we welcome new managers??? We make them rebound for the walk on. pic.twitter.com/XKszBTfz4b

-- OSU BBall Managers (@OSUManagers) April 14, 2016

It's like Matta is pulling different pieces of the band back together as he tries to get the program back on track. In addition to hands on work with the players -- it's more than just rebounding jumpers -- Matta thinks Oden's basketball experiences can help his players.

"From the perspective of everything he's been through, just in terms of the injuries that he's had and not being able to fulfill his dream, that touches me," Matta said. "I think getting him back in the program, and back in school, Greg is as happy as I've ever seen him right now. We're very excited to have him around, because he's very knowledgeable and he's great with people. I think it will be a great thing for our program to have him around."

This could all change in a few months, too. Oden played professionally in China last year, and pretty well for the Jiangsu Dragons. He was released from his month-to-month contract in January after averaging 13 points and 12 rebounds per game.

He's not fully done with his playing career, and this stint as manager could end if another enticing contract comes along. Or this stint as manager could lead Oden down a coaching road, and a different way to continue his life in basketball.

"I think that he has that potential," Matta said. "I think being with the different NBA teams he's been, he's seen so much. Just being around on a daily basis I think will answer a lot of questions for him if he has an interest in doing this. If he does, I'll definitely take care of him."

LeBron James lost much more than a Halloween costume when rockstar Prince died on Thursday. Watch video

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. - With the death of rockstar Prince on Thursday, LeBron James lost more than a Halloween costume.

"I just think we're losing a lot of our heroes a lot earlier than expected," James said Friday, before the Cavs' morning shootaround in preparation for Game 3 of a first-round playoff series against the Detroit Pistons. "As an artist and what he did for music and for people's lives, like my mother and the people who grew up around that era, he was special.

"My condolences out to his whole family and it's just a sad situation yesterday to see someone so talented gone so soon."

Prince, 57, was found dead at his home in Minnesota Thursday. The cause of death has not yet been determined.

This past Halloween, James threw a lavish party for teammates and friends in which he not only dressed like the music legend, but performed several songs on stage, including "Purple Rain."

"He's someone that I always listen to for sure," James said. "Purple Rain is obviously one of my favorite movies, which is funny, I love that movie. I watch it a lot. Any time it's on television, I always catch it."

Talk all things Cleveland sports with Plain Dealer reporter live at 12:30 today.

Talk Cleveland sports with Dennis Manoloff during his weekly podcast today at 12:30Allison Carey/The Plain Dealer

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Get your questions ready and join the Plain Dealer's Dennis Manoloff today at 12:30 p.m. as he talks Cleveland sports.

DMan and I will talk about the Browns trading down. We'll also talk about the Cavaliers-Pistons series and look at the Indians.

Jump in the comments to ask your questions and talk along with us.

The Cleveland Cavaliers did not send to the league clips of the Detroit Pistons' elbowing of LeBron James, who is seeking a road win in his 23rd consecutive playoff series. Watch video

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. - The Cavaliers did not send to the NBA the clip from Wednesday night's Game 2 win over Detroit in which Pistons center Andre Drummond and forward Marcus Morris simultaneously elbowed LeBron James.

Which is how the Cavs' superstar wanted it.

"I hope we don't send anything into the league because it's not about that," said James, prior to Game 3 of this first-round playoff series. The Cavs hold a 2-0 lead.

James said he didn't feel he was being targeted by the two Piston big men, who slugged him in the back and ribs in the fourth quarter of Cleveland's 17-point victory. And "even if they are, that's not even what I'm concerned about.

"My concern is I got to continue to be aggressive, put pressure on their defense," he said. "Continue to find my guys when they're open and continue to defend and help my guys on the glass with big Drummond."

SEE: LeBron targeted by Pistons big men

James had nothing of consequence to say about Pistons rookie Stanley Johnson, who said he's in James' head after Game 2, even though James scored 27 points, mostly against him. And obviously, he's not engaging in anything off the court with Morris or Drummond, even though there was some meat there between the lines from Wednesday night.

James is averaging 24.5 points, six rebounds, and seven assists and shooting 60 percent in this series. He's searching for a road win in his 23^rd consecutive playoff series, a streak that dates back to the Cavs' first-round series against the Pistons in 2009.

It was also here in suburban Detroit where James lost his first playoff series, in the Eastern conference semis of 2006, when the Pistons took game 7 at the Palace of Auburn Hills. And, of course, it was here where James basically came of age as a playoff legend, scoring 25 consecutive points and 29 of Cleveland's last 30 in a double-overtime win in Game 5 of the 2007 conference finals.

He's averaging 27.7 points, 8.9 rebounds, and 6.4 assists in nine career playoff games at The Palace.

"This is a building that I had a lot of sleepless nights," James said. "When you walk in here knowing it's a playoff series, just all the memories come back, for sure."

Weekly update for the Columbus Clippers, the Class AAA affiliate of the Cleveland Indians. Watch video

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Pitching prospect Mike Clevinger's transition from Class AA Akron to Class AAA Columbus was smooth enough when he allowed only two earned runs and five hits in his first 10 innings.

Things changed quickly in Clevinger's last start as he gave up five earned runs and six hits in 4 1/3 innings pitched in a loss to Louisville on Wednesday.

Clevinger faced his biggest critic after the game.

"That's myself," Clevinger said. "I try to find some positives. Some of my stuff was working but my strike percentage could've been better. That and some good timely hitting ... It was just one of those days."

Clevinger expects better days in Columbus.

"I just need more quality strikes," said Clevinger, who is on a 90-pitch count. "I'm getting the movement [on his fastball] and the stuff is there, but it's about getting quality misses and quality strikes."

In January, Clevinger was awarded the Bob Feller Award as the top pitcher in the Cleveland Indians system. The righthander had a 2.73 ERA and 145 strikeouts in 158 innings last season in Akron.

He was impressive in spring training and looks to be the first pitcher called up if the Indians have a need.

Who's hot: 2B Michael Martinez has hit safely in 11 of 12 games. He's hitting .308 (12-for-39). Last season, he got off to an extremely slow start, batting an IL-worst .148 (13-for-88) with zero multi-hit games through May 13.

Who's not: Catchers Adam Moore, Anthony Recker and Guillermo Quiroz had combined to hit .135 (7-for-52) with one extra base hit and no RBI through Wednesday. Then Moore slugged a solo homer in Thursday's victory. Catcher Alex Lavisky (St. Edward) is on the seven-day disabled list. ... 3B Giovanny Urshela and Ronny Rodriguez have combined to hit .196. 

Notable: 1B Jesus Aguilar has struck out only four times in 45 plate appearances. He ranks sixth in the IL with 11.3 AB/K. ... The Clippers added netting to protect fans at Huntington Park.

Clippers update: The Clippers are 6-7 and they allowed their most runs of the season on Wednesday in a 16-5 loss to Louisville. ... The Clippers began an eight-game homestand on Thursday. ... Indians LF Michael Brantley is scheduled to make a rehab start with the Clippers on Friday.

Links:

• Clippers stats
• Clippers schedule

(Photo courtesy: Joe Santry)

The Cleveland Cavaliers and Detroit Pistons move their NBA Eastern Conference playoff series to Auburn Hills, Mich., for Game 3 on Friday night.

CLEVELAND, Ohio - As the Cavaliers take a 2-0 lead to Detroit for Friday's Game 3 of their Eastern Conference playoff series, a few questions remain.

Will this series return to Cleveland?

Will the physicality regress or ramp up?

Those questions are addressed in the stories below leading up to Game 3. It can be seen on ESPN and Fox Sports Ohio. The radio broadcast will be carried by WTAM 1100-AM and 87.7-FM (esp.).

The series

Game 1: Cavaliers 106, Detroit 101, Cavaliers lead series 1-0

Game 2: Cavaliers 107, Detroit 90, Cavaliers lead series 2-0

Game 3: 7 p.m., Friday in Detroit (ESPN)

Game 4: 8:30 p.m., Sunday in Detroit (TNT)

Game 5, if necessary: Time TBA, Tuesday, April 26, in Cleveland (TNT)

Projected Game 3 starters

Cavaliers: PG Kyrie Irving (6-foot-3, 22 points, 4-7 on 3s in Game 2), SG J.R. Smith (6-6, 21 points, 7-11 on 3s), SF LeBron James (6-8, 27 points, six rebounds), PF Kevin Love (6-10, 16 points, 10 rebounds), C Tristan Thompson (6-10, zero points, 13 minutes).

Pistons: PG Reggie Jackson (6-3, 14 points, six assists in Game 2), SG Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (6-5, 13 points, eight rebounds), SF Tobias Harris (6-9, 13 points, eight rebounds), PF Marcus Morris (6-9, 11 points, seven rebounds), C Andre Drummond (6-11, 20 points, 4-16 free throws).

Game day coverage

'We don't get paid to talk'

Lue: Can't get caught up in physical play

Ignoring Pistons' big elbows

A look back at Game 2

Cavaliers tie 3-point record, take 2-0 lead

Vardon: LeBron was Lue's adjustment

See six soundbites after Game 2

Shaw: James plays like he's in control of Pistons

Hack-a-Drummond pays for Cavaliers

Cavs consider asking league to review elbows

Fedor's observations: Halftime film sessions, J.R.'s shooting burst

Pluto: Scribbles on game-changing defense, LeBron's praise

DMan's Report on Game 2

Shaw: Cavs answered some big questions

Livingston: Cavs let shooting, not coach, speak for them

These Pistons are 'Young Boys,' not 'Bad Boys'

Will series return to Cleveland?

Game 2 photo slideshow

Watch 20,000 sing National Anthem

More chatter since then

Van Gundy on LeBron 'adjustment'

LeBron on Prince

Cold, hard facts on what's needed of title pursuit

Rapper Stalley pays tribute to Irving, Cavs

Cleveland vs. Detroit, on and off the court

Contact sports reporter Matt Goul on Twitter (@mgoul) or email (mgoul@cleveland.com). Or log in and leave a message below in the comments section.

Brad Zimmer, Clint Frazier and other Cleveland Indians top prospects have already made an impact with the Akron RubberDucks.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Class AA Akron RubberDucks continue to roll in the Eastern League as catcher Jeremy Lucas (12th round/2012), OF Clint Frazier (1st/2013) and OF Bradley Zimmer (1st/2014) are hitting their stride early in the season.

Lucas leads the pack after Thursday's games with a .406 average, 13 hits, 11 RBI and 4 homers. His 13 hits have come in nine of the last 10 games.

Frazier, in his first season at AA Akron, is hitting a solid .286, although he has just two homers and seven RBI  in 13 games, with 11 strikeouts.

Zimmer, who spent nearly half of last season at Akron, is only hitting .255, but is showing his versatility. After failing on his first two steal attempts of the season, he has now swiped four straight.

Zimmer also has three doubles, two triples and two homers after the first two full weeks of the season. The downside -- in 13 games Zimmer has struck out an alarming 19 times.

Who's hot: After a slow start, third baseman Yandy Diaz is starting to hit his stride. While hitting .256 on the season, he is on a .310 roll his last 10 games, going 9-for-25 with a homer, eight RBI, 12 walks and three stolen bases. Diaz was a .315 hitter for the Ducks last season with seven homers.

Who's not: First baseman Nellie Rodriguez has struggled, hitting .200 with 10 hits in 50 at-bats. Known for his power bat, Rodriguez, 21, does have three homers, three doubles and nine RBI. But 22 strikeouts in 13 games has to be addressed for the former 15th-round pick (2012) out of New York.

Notable: The RubberDucks are 10-4 and already own a solid lead in the Western Division of the Eastern League standings, which is indicative of the high level of talent on the roster, even as several players have yet to hit their stride.

RubberDucks update: The Akron RubberDucks all-star 2016 campaign got off to a fast start at Canal Park with 22,382 fans coming through the gates during the four-game series against the Bowie Baysox from April 14-17. It is the most fans hosted by Canal Park through the first four home games of a season since 2005, when 22,980 came to the ballpark.

The RubberDucks sold out the home opener on April 14 with a crowd of 7,671. The weekend crowds were 4,645 on Friday, 4,085 on Saturday, and 5,981 for Sunday's series finale.

"We are humbled and excited by our amazing fans' passion for RubberDucks baseball and for our all-star season at Canal Park," general manager Jim Pfander said in a release. "This is a great start to the season and I know the affordable family fun we have planned will keep smiles on the faces of fans of all ages."

Links:

• RubberDucks statistics
• RubberDucks schedule

The Cleveland Cavaliers will continue their playoff run tonight against the Detroit Pistons. Tipoff is at 7 p.m. and the game will be shown on ESPN and Fox Sports Ohio.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cleveland Cavaliers will continue their playoff run tonight against the Detroit Pistons. Tipoff is at 7 p.m. and the game will be shown on ESPN and Fox Sports Ohio. On radio, it will be simulcast on WTAM 1100 and 87.7 FM (ESP).

The Cavaliers took a 2-0 series lead on Wednesday, cruising to a 107-90 win against the Pistons. In the win, LeBron James scored a game-high 27 points on 12-of-18 from the field. Kyrie Irving added 22 points while J.R. Smith poured in 21. Smith also had a game-high seven three-pointers, helping the Cavs tie an NBA playoff record with 20 in a single game. 

Detroit, the No. 8 seed in the conference, had all five starters reach double figures in scoring, led by Andre Drummond's 20 points. Reggie Jackson added 14 points on 7-of-14 from the field. Detroit's bench was the issue, as the group had just 19 points. 

Our Joe Vardon has the latest from Auburn Hills, as James and the Cavs are trying to ignore the rough play in the series. Catch the coverage from before the game; join in the live chat starting at tipoff; and stick around for full postgame coverage. For all Cavs information, be sure to check out cleveland.com/cavs. 

Weekly update for the Lynchburg Hillcats, the Class A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Cleveland Indians prospect Mike Papi has started off his second season in Class A Lynchburg with a bang.

Papi, an outfielder selected 38th overall by the Indians in the 2014 draft, was named Carolina League Player of the Week for April 7-17.

It was a week where Papi reached base successfully in all 12 games he played. His week also included a five-game hitting streak where he was 8-for-20 with two doubles and three home runs. He has four RBIs and four runs scored during that span.

Papi was on such a roll that he led the Carolina League in slugging percentage (.800) and home runs (4) through the first 10 games.

Last year, Papi finished third in the Carolina League with 34 doubles and topped all players with his 81 walks.

Who's hot: For his third consecutive start, RHP Julian Merryweather set the table for a combined shutout by the Hillcats pitching staff. He went 6 2/3 innings, and David Speer tossed the final 2 1/3 in Wednesday's win over Potomac. In 17.2 innings, he is 3-0, allowing no runs, 15 hits and two walks while striking out 13.

Notable: Right fielder Greg Allen paces the Carolina League with 13 stolen bases. He has .524 on-base percentage, which ranks second. Allen also leads the league in runs scored (16) and walks (15).

Hillcats update: The Hillcats (12-3) have won eight straight, the first seven on the road. ... The Hillcats won three in a row at Potomac and four straight at Frederick. ... They also have thrown shutouts in two straight games. ... Lynchburg's 24 stolen bases are the second-best total on the circuit.

Links:

• Hillcats stats
• Hillcats schedule

The Cavaliers have grown tired of the Pistons' constant yapping. 'We don't get paid to talk.'

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. - The Cleveland Cavaliers are tired of hearing all of the noise coming from the Detroit Pistons' locker room.

Prior to tonight's Game 3 matchup at The Palace of Auburn Hills, some of the players voiced their annoyance level with a team they're up 2-0 on in this first-round playoff series.

"It's basketball. We don't get paid to talk. We don't get paid to entertain. We get paid to play basketball," Cavs veteran James Jones told cleveland.com. "That's our job. At the end of the day, we want to win basketball games, we don't want to win arguments."

Pistons head coach Stan Van Gundy has been critical of how LeBron James is being officiated, rookie Stanley Johnson has constantly fired shots at James and Marcus Morris has basically dared any of the Cavaliers to mention his name after he was questioned about his elbow to James' ribs.

The young Pistons have been surprisingly competitive throughout this series, but thei comments have soaked up much of the headlines.

"We're just playing basketball. We don't have time to chirp. We play ball," Tristan Thompson said to cleveland.com.

Every Cavalier doesn't share James' peaceful, non-confrontational approach.

"Some of them do, not all of them," James said. Some of them like it. I know one guy in particular. You guys may know him as well. [J.R. Smith] loves when things get chippy and trash-talking and things of that nature."

This series is shaping up very similarly to the Boston series from last year's opening round match.

The Celtics couldn't beat the Cavaliers, so they literally tried to beat them up. In Game 4, Kevin Love's postseason ended in an awkward scrum with Kelly Olynyk. The Cavaliers used Kendrick Perkins for reinforcement and he nailed Jae Crowder with a vicious screen that sent Crowder tumbling to the hardwood. Later, Smith backhanded Crowder while the two were boxing out for a rebound, eventually getting a two-game suspension from the league.

Friday, the team collectively spoke about learning from that experience and assured it wouldn't be an issue this time around.

But without a Perkins enforcer-type on this roster, if the Pistons suddenly realize they're no match and go over the line physically, who will prevent them from causing bodily harm to the reigning Eastern Conference champs?

"Oh, don't get it twisted. If it gets out of control, we've got guys on this team who know what to do," a member of the Cavaliers who shall remain anonymous told me.

The Cavaliers aren't constructed to be the toughest guy on the block, but they're not going to back down from rough play.

"So if they're hurting our guys, we're not going to go out there and hurt no one else, but we're going to make sure that when they attack the rim, nothing easy around the basket," Thompson said. "I'm not saying intentionally fouling anyone, but just making sure it's a hard foul."

It would be in the Cavaliers' best interest to end this series as quickly as possible. To this point, Cleveland has done what it's supposed to do. Detroit has said what it isn't supposed to say.

There's no shock as to which team is up 2-0.

"The game is going to be determined by your actions and what you do on the floor and not what you say," Jones said. "You know, different people use different methods and tools to prepare and get themselves ready to go, but we're focused on the game. We're focused strictly on the Xs and Os."

"If you just remember that we're here to play basketball and win basketball games, the rest of it becomes sidecar entertainment."

Cleveland Indians catching prospect Francisco Mejia is sizzling at the plate for the Lake County Captains.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The hot bat at the start of this 2016 season with the Lake County Captains belongs to catcher Francisco Mejia. It is a small sample size, but even after 12 games a .435 average is worth taking noting.

Mejia, 20, was an undrafted free agent out of the Dominican Republic four years ago by the Indians. This is his second season with the Captains after hitting .243 last season, his first full season in the minors. Despite being only 5-10, 175, he did show some power last season with nine homers.

Mejia hasn't homered this season, but has 12 RBI, five walks, six doubles and a triple and has only struck out four times. What has to be encouraging for the Indians is Mejia is a switch-hitter and seems to project well from both sides of the plate.

He is hitting .250 against left-handers and .533 against right-handers. However, all of his whiffs have come against right-handers while two of his four walks have come against lefthanders.

Who's hot: Going into his Friday start, LHP Thomas Pannone, 21, is 1-0 in three starts with an 0.64 ERA. The 6-0, 195-pound product of Cranston R.I. was a ninth-round pick by the Indians in the 2013 draft.

In his three games, Pannone has worked 14 innings with 17 strikeouts vs. just four walks and seven hits allowed. He allowed just one hit and one walk with seven strikeouts in six innings in his last start.

Who's not: No surprise, perhaps, or just bad karma, but Captains infielder Yonathan Mendoza, is, yes, hitting below 'The Mendoza Line' for the season, currently at .195.

That phrase was coined in the 1980s during one of Hall of Famer's George Brett's rare slumps, as a reference to former major league shortstop Mario Mendoza, who was a career .215 hitter, but often had an average just above or just below .200 at any point in his career.

Yonathan Mendoza, 22, has eight hits in 41 at-bats in 11 games. The Venezuela native has eight strikeouts and two walks. His last hit came five games ago.

Notable: Infielder Tyler Krieger made ESPN's Sports Center this week for a Top 10 Play of the Day.

Captains update: The Captains crossed a numerical milestone last week when they won their 400th game since joining the Midwest League in 2010. And under the heading of strange but true, the first-place Captains have scored first in all but three games this season.

Links:

• Captains stats
• Captains schedule

The Lake Erie Monsters can clinch their first-round AHL Calder Cup playoff series when they face the Rockford IceHogs on Saturday at Quicken Loans Arena. Lake Erie leads the best-of-five series, 2-0.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Lake Erie Monsters are looking to sweep their AHL Calder Cup playoffs Western Conference Central Division semifinal series when they play host to the Rockford IceHogs on Saturday at 7 p.m. in Quicken Loans Arena.

The Monsters own a 2-0 lead in the best-of-five series after winning in Rockford, 5-2 on Wednesday and 5-1 on Thursday. Games 4 and 5 of the series, if necessary, will also be played at the Q, on Monday and Thursday.

The Monsters are looking to advance to the second round of the Calder Cup Playoffs for the first time in franchise history. The Cleveland Barons won nine Calder Cup championships, the last in 1964.

The Monsters are making their first AHL playoff appearance since 2011 in their first year as an affiliate of the Columbus Blue Jackets. Their playoff roster features several players who spent time in the NHL with the Blue Jackets this season.

Right winger Josh Anderson had a hat trick in Lake Erie's win on Thursday. Goalie Joonas Korpisalo has stopped 52 of 55 shots in the two games. The Monsters scored on 3 of 5 power plays on Thursday and have successfully killed 6 of 7 power plays by Rockford in the two games.

The Monsters are hoping their home-ice advantage continues in the playoffs. They set a franchise record for wins at home this season, finishing with a 25-8-1-4 mark. The also set a franchise record with 97 points in the regular season.

"I expect the atmosphere to be unbelievable, it's been really good during the regular season, so I can't imagine how it will be in playoffs," goaltender Anton Forsberg said on the team's web site.

DMan talks all things Cleveland sports in his weekly podcast.

(To have this podcast delivered straight to your mobile phone or device, subscribe to our iTunes channel.)

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Did the Browns do the right thing trading down? How will the Cavaliers fare in Detroit?

Dennis Manoloff discussed all of that with host Dan Labbe on Friday.

Among the other topics discussed:

DMan's Indians rant.

Ezekiel Elliott at No. 8.

The Pistons getting physical.

You can download the MP3 or listen with the player above.

Be sure to follow DMan on Twitter.

Qualifying is today at 4 p.m. for the Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama IndyCar event in Birmingham, Alabama.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A.J. Foyt Racing drivers Takuma Sato and Jack Hawksworth ran the fastest laps Friday during practice for the IndyCar Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama.

The race is Sunday at 3:30 p.m. on NBCSN. Qualifying begins today at 4 p.m., also on NBCSN. Today's practice sessios will be on NBCSN at noon. You can also follow along live at IndyCar's Race Control.

James Hinchcliffe had the third-fastest practice lap on Friday, giving Honda the three best times. Honda has struggled this season with Chevrolet dominating the early series.

VERIZON INDYCAR
HONDA INDY GRAND PRIX OF ALABAMA
Site: Birmingham, Alabama
Schedule: Saturday, practice (12-12:45 a.m.), qualifying (NBCSN, 4-5:15 p.m.); Sunday, practice (11:30-12 p.m.), race, 3:30-5:45 p.m. (NBCSN).
Track: Road, 2.38 miles.
Race distance: 214.2 miles, 90 laps.
Last year: Josef Newgarden held off Helio Castroneves for his first victory of the season. Newgarden had four podium finishes in 2015, finishing seventh in the standings.
Last race: Simon Pagenaud picked up his first series win for Team Penske at Long Beach. Scott Dixon and his Chip Ganassi Racing team thought Pagenaud should have been penalized for crossing a blend line as he returned to the track following a pit stop, but Pagenaud got off with a warning.
Fast facts: Takuma Sato picked up his first top-five of 2016 at Long Beach, which was his best race since taking second in the second race of the Chevrolet Dual in Detroit at Belle Isle last year. ... All five of Pagenaud's wins in IndyCar have come on road or street courses.
Next race: Angie's List Grand Prix of Indianapolis, May 14, Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course.

Can Washington jump up high enough to be a top-100 pick?

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- COLUMBUS, Ohio -- As part of our NFL Draft coverage, we'll break down all the Ohio State draft candidates from a Buckeye perspective before the draft kicks off next Thursday.

Adolphus Washington, Ohio State defensive tackle

At Ohio State: Washington came to Ohio State as a five-star defensive end, but built his career as a defensive tackle. Playing both nose tackle and 3-technique, Washington appeared in 49 games and made 31 starts.

His senior season was his best. Washington finished the year with 49 tackles, seven for loss and four sacks while playing in a 3-technique role that gave him more space to operate and allowed him to use his pass rushing skills from his defensive end days. He was named a first-team All-American by Sporting News, and finished his career with 142 tackles and 13.5 sacks.

Washington was suspended for the Fiesta Bowl in 2015 after an arrest for solicitation.

What the NFL Draft experts say: "A natural pass-rusher in a 4-3 scheme, Adolphus Washington projects as a 3-technique with starter potential ... Getting stronger in the legs and rear, plus keeping those shoulders low, will allow Washington to make an impact against the run." -Matt Miller, Bleacher Report

"Washington can become an effective interior pass rusher if he can force himself to play with better knee bend, but he must play with more consistent urgency or could turn into just another guy in the rotation rather than a full-time starter." -NFL.com

Where he could be drafted: For as highly-rated as Washington was coming out of high school, he's not on the elite level of defensive tackles in this draft. But Washington still has the talent to come off the board on the second day, which means in either the second or third round.

It seems his workouts and film didn't quite match how good Washington was on paper, but there's still a fit on plenty of NFL teams for a big defensive tackle with pass rush skills. Start looking for teams in the third round who run the 4-3 system that would fit Washington's skills.

Washington in mock drafts:

Where was Washington projected in our latest mock draft roundup?

We'll give our wild guesses on where Washington gets drafted below, give us your wild guess in the comments section.

We rang the bell on Washington at No. 109 in our Ohio State draft

Bill's wild guess: There are enough red flags about Washington that he'll slide to Day 3, even if he has had Day 2 talent. He'd be a good selection for a team that's looking for defensive tackle depth, and maybe an eventual starter in the fourth round. So Washington will be the first Ohio State name you hear called on Sunday, going in the fourth round, No. 124 overall to the Seattle Seahawks.

Doug's wild guess: There's certainly a chance that a team could love Washington's height and seize at tackle and take him higher than expected, maybe in the third round. But the guess here is that he slides to a familiar face, and he lands with his former defensive line coach at Ohio State. That would be Houston Texans assistant Mike Vrabel, so call Washington to Houston in the fifth round at pick 159.

Ari's wild guess: Maybe Adolphus Washington has first-round talent, but the combination of his off-the-field trouble, the suspension that occurred because of it and the fact that he didn't test well at the NFL Combine and at Ohio State's Pro Day will make him fall. The New York Giants always seem to have a good defensive line and have had success with Johnathan Hankins, so this makes sense to me for Washington to go in the fourth round, No. 109 overall to the Giants.

Other draft profiles:

Joey Bosa NFL Draft 2016 profile

The Cleveland Cavaliers gave Tristan Thompson an $82 million deal last summer, and he continues to improve. Meanwhile, Timofey Mozgov has struggled.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Think about the Cleveland Cavaliers at this time a year ago as the playoffs opened. Who would you have considered more valuable -- Tristan Thompson or Timofey Mozgov?

That would have made for an interesting debate. Some would have preferred Mozgov, the 7-foot-1 center who came to the team in January of 2015 and helped spark them to the 34-9 finish. Others would have taken Thompson, the 6-foot-10 forward/center who is more athletic than Mozgov.

Their stats were close. Mozgov averaged 10.6 points and 6.9 rebounds in 25 minutes a game for the Cavs in 2014-15. Thompson was 8.5 points and 8.0 rebounds in 27 minutes.

Thompson was outstanding in the 2015 playoffs, averaging 9.6 points and 10.8 rebounds. That helped secure a five-year, $82 million contract extension in the summer.

At the start of this season, Mozgov had a legitimate reason to believe that type of deal could be coming his way when he becomes a free agent in July of 2016.

WHAT HAPPENED?

Mozgov averaged 10.6 points and 7.3 rebounds in 25 minutes a game during the 2015 postseason. The Cavs didn't even know Mozgov's knee was bothering him until he told them after the playoffs. On July 2, he had arthroscopic surgery on the right knee that was supposed to keep him out six to eight weeks.

"Things just snowballed for Timo in a negative way from the beginning," said GM David Griffin. "He came to camp slightly uncomfortable because he'd spent the off-season rehabbing his knee. He wasn't in the kind of condition to play that he'd like. We spent time getting him in shape."

The comeback was slow.

"There is nothing wrong with the knee," said Griffin. "He's had no swelling, recurrent issues relative to the surgery. We have to almost throw him off the court after practice because he just wants to keep working. If you have issues with your knee, you would not do that."

This season, Mozgov is averaging 6.3 points and 4.4 rebounds in 17 minutes. He's not the same shot-blocker or defender. As more teams employ smaller lineups with no real center, his playing time also has been slashed.

"I think he put incredible pressure on himself," said Griffin. "He came into the year with the high level of expectations that we have as a team ... and his own expectations because he's a free agent ... all that pressure he put on himself made it hard for him to play that way."

There have been times when Mozgov looks as he did season ago, but he hasn't sustained it. Other games, he drops passes and plays timidly. As I recently wrote, the Cavs too often play poorly as a unit with him on the floor -- and lots of stats back that up.

Mozgov didn't play in Friday's Game 3 of the Detroit series. He will be 30 on July 16. It's hard to imagine the Cavs spending much to keep him as Thompson has taken over at center. Kevin Love has shown he can play some center, and they also added 6-foot-11 Channing Frye.

Thompson, Love and Frye are all on long-term contracts.

It's also difficult to figure out what type of contract will be awaiting Mozgov this summer, other than it will be considerably less than he'd have received a year ago.

ABOUT THOMPSON

What does Griffin think about Thompson in light of the contract he signed?

"I'm grateful he's on the team," said the general manager. "Some people have a difficult time understanding the impact he makes on the game because he doesn't have the traditional statistics (especially scoring). We have a measure known as 'win shares,' and he's 22nd in the NBA."

That sounds outrageously high for a player who averaged 7.8 points and 9.0 rebounds, shooting 59 percent from the field and 62 percent at the foul line.

"The reason he's so essential to us is that he's a Swiss Army knife type of player," said Griffin. "He can guard any type of frontcourt player. He also can cover some of the deficiencies of others in the front court because he covers so much ground. He has become an infinitely better rim-protector this season. His court awareness has improved significantly."

Thompson has played in 370 consecutive regular season games, the longest current streak in the league. At 25, his game can continue to improve. His weakness is offense, something the Cavs really don't need.

"Tristan is someone you could have invested any amount of money in and you know he'd continue to work at his craft," said Griffin.

In case you were wondering about a former Cavs big man, Anderson Varejao has played very little since being signed by Golden State in February. He is averaging 2.6 points and 2.3 rebounds in 8.5 minutes per game. He's sat out six of 28 games since the trade, and played only seven minutes in the postseason.

Cleveland Indians could be using Jose Ramirez a lot in center field when Michael Brantley returns.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Jose Ramirez spending some time in center field for the Cleveland Indians? That could happen in the near future.

Michael Brantley is expected to return next week. That means someone has to go to the minors. Brantley will take over his old left field spot. The Indians have veterans Rajai Davis and Marlon Byrd available in the outfield.

They also have Lonnie Chisenhall. My guess is the lefty-hitting Chisenhall will platoon in right field with Byrd or Davis. That leaves center field -- and two interesting names.

Rookie Tyler Naquin was a spring training sensation. He also has played reasonably well this season, batting .320 (8-of-25). All the hits are singles and he hasn't drawn a walk. Naquin has not been overmatched at the bat.

The Indians have been platooning Davis and the lefty-hitting Naquin this season. Because they have faced so many left-handed pitchers, Naquin's opportunities have been sporadic.

The decision to break Naquin into the majors as a platoon player could lead to him being demoted once Brantley returns. Rather than have him spending even more time on the bench, the plan could be for Naquin to play regularly in Class AAA.

The 24-year-old Naquin played only 50 games for Columbus last season, batting .263 (.784 OPS) with 6 HR and 17 RBI. The Indians could easily make the case that he could use some more Class AAA experience.

I expect the Tribe to platoon Davis in center with Ramirez, who is a switch hitter.

A natural infielder, Ramirez played only three games in the outfield during his minor league career. He has played eight games in left field this season, and done a decent job. The Indians believe he has the speed and natural instincts to be a respectable center fielder -- at least part time.

The Tribe likes how Ramirez is swinging the bat. He entered the weekend hitting .256 (.685 OPS) with 1 HR and 4 RBI. He also has three doubles in his 39 at-bats.

Another alternative would be to send a reliever to the minors, but my guess is Terry Francona would rather have eight men in the bullpen than six outfielders (if they keep Naquin after Brantley is activated). The Tribe manager is constantly worried about not having enough relievers.

WHAT ABOUT ANDERSON?

The Indians are expected to give Cody Anderson at least one more start before thinking about any changes to the rotation.

Anderson is 0-1 with a 7.53 ERA in three starts. He's served up 5 HR in 14 1/3 innings. A key for Anderson will be the development of a third pitch to go with his fastball and change-up. He worked on a curve in spring training and had some success with it, but it has not been effective in April.

The Indians have career-starter Trevor Bauer in the bullpen. They could create a roster opening by sending Anderson to the minors, adding Bauer to the rotation.

Anderson has minor league options, Bauer does not.

ABOUT FRANCISCO LINDOR

Remember how Ramirez looked so lost at the start of 2015? He was the opening day shortstop. He was coming off a solid year in 2014, when he took over at the position at the All-Star break.

But Ramirez was a mess last spring. He finally was sent to the minors in early June, batting .176 (.478 OPS). Ramirez returned after the All-Star break and batted .259 (.775 OPS) for the rest of the season.

Those early season problems are a common trap. A player such as Ramirez has a strong start in the minors. He comes to the big leagues in the summer when the weather is warmer and his confidence is soaring because he played well in the minors. He continues to make a good impression in Cleveland.

The following spring, he makes the big league team. Opponents have developed more in-depth scouting reports on him. Perhaps the player thinks the big leagues won't be quite as hard.

Instead, the pitchers work him over. The weather is cold. The pressure is on. He starts slowly. His confidence sinks and it's back to the minors. He regains his confidence, then comes back to the majors. Only this time, he is more mature and better equipped emotionally and physically for a full big-league season.

Asdrubal Cabrera came to the Tribe in the middle of 2007 and made a big impact on a playoff team. He opened 2008 at second base. He slumped, and was sent to the minors. He returned later in the season and remained in the big leagues for the rest of his career.

Cabrera is now starting at shortstop for the Mets.

Which brings us to Francisco Lindor. The Indians believed the 22-year-old would avoid the April trap. So far, he has continued the same play that made him a runner-up for the 2015 American League Rookie of the Year.

Lindor entered the weekend hitting .296 (.763 OPS) with 1 HR and 5 RBI. He's been very good at shortstop. His partner at second base -- Jason Kipnis -- also is a player who was promoted in the middle of a season (2011) and never returned to the minors. So it can happen, but about 80 percent of players make at least one return to the minors because they struggle at some point.

ABOUT THE TRIBE

1. Following Friday's 2-1 victory in Detroit, the Indians raised their record to 7-7 heading into the weekend. They were 7-14 last April, and never could dig out of that hole. With Brantley hurt, one of the Tribe's goals was to avoid another April disaster. As I outlined last weekend, their last winning record in April was in 2012.

2. It's so much fun to watch Josh Tomlin pitch with such savvy and skill as he did in Friday's victory. He held the Tigers to one run in 6 2/3 innings. He's now 2-0 with a 1.54 ERA in three starts.

3. Tomlin came back from shoulder surgery last August. Since then, he has a 9-2 record with a 2.79 ERA in 13 starts.

4. The Indians have received a strong start from Mike Napoli. Davis and Byrd have been respectable and Byrd's homer off Justin Verlander was the difference in Friday's game. So the newcomers have helped. Third baseman Juan Uribe opened the season 1-of-19, but is 6-of-18 since then. The Indians do miss Brantley's clutch hitting. Even with some of these veteran hitters being an upgrade over a year ago, scoring runs remains a problem.

5. Some fans wondered about Brady Aiken, the Tribe's top pick in the 2015 draft who was coming off Tommy John elbow surgery. He had the operation on March 26, 2015. The usual recovery period is 14 to 16 months if a team is careful. Aiken is on a throwing program in Goodyear, Arizona with the goal of pitching in some minor league games this summer.

6. Gio Urshela is off to a very painful start at Columbus, hitting .170 (.396 OPS) entering the weekend. He has no homers, 1 RBI and one walk. The infield prospect at Class AAA having the best start is Erik Gonzalez, hitting .333 and playing well at shortstop.

James essentially left Drummond hanging -- as the Pistons' season is this morning -- by a thread.

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. - After the Detroit Pistons fell to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday evening, plunging to a 0-3 series hole, Andre Drummond stood waiting in the corridors near the Cavaliers' locker room.

Cleveland's Big 3 was assigned to speak at the podium together after combining for 66 points while earning the 101-91 Game 3 victory. Drummond was posted in the very pathway that leads to the press conference area.

Kyrie Irving emerged from the locker room and Drummond got his attention and they shared a hug along with a few words. Kevin Love surfaced and Drummond greeted him with a handshake and a very brief chat.

Then LeBron James finally departed from the locker room. James saw Drummond up ahead. Drummond saw James approaching. Drummond tried to make eye contact as if he had something to say, but James just walked past as if the 6-11, 280 pound All-Star center wasn't even there.

And Drummond knew exactly why.

He had gotten away with an elbow to the side of James' neck in the first half of Game 3 while the four-time MVP wasn't looking. It was a dangerous, senseless play that sent James crashing to the ground and the officials completely missed it.

To James' credit, he bounced back up and resumed playing. Whether Drummond's elbow was intentional or not is up to the league to decide, but it was a play that could have caused some serious damage.

"The only way I wasn't getting back up was if my head came off and even then, I might still get up and play without one," James told cleveland.com. "That's just the way I was brought up to play the game. You see I'm good now."

James said he didn't need to be checked out following the elbow.

"It wasn't necessary," he said. "I've been hit way worse before."

Drummond was likely stationed so conveniently by the opponent's locker room to presumably get a temperature gauge on James. If the moment presented itself, he would have likely issued an apology.

But James wasn't in the mood for fraternizing with the opposition. He treated Drummond the way the Cavaliers have been treating the Pistons this series: like they're not there.

The constant bickering, complaining and cheap shots from the young squad have been virtually ignored by the Cavaliers. While one team has continually yapped, the other one has racked up all the victories and is one win from sending Motor City fans back to baseball season.

Trash talking has clashed with actually playing the game, with the results speaking for themselves. James essentially left Drummond hanging -- as the Pistons' season is this morning -- by a thread.

That thread will probably be snipped on Sunday. Drummond was apparently hoping to sweep the incident with James under the rug. Instead, there likely will only be only one sweep. Drummond will have plenty of time to chill in the corridors after that.

"I think our team and our front office and the people that handle that will cover the Drummond [elbow]," James said at the podium. "For me, my focus is now on Sunday."

Hue Jackson has a reputation for helping quarterbacks, but his record shows he loves the running game.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Hue Jackson loves quarterbacks. Most fans know that about the Cleveland Browns' new head coach.

But the numbers tell you something else, something important. It could be a tip about the draft, where I expect the Browns to grab a running back in the first few rounds.

I've been beating the draft drum for Ezekiel Elliott, and not because I love Ohio State players. Rather, most of those who are supposed to know about the draft consider Elliott one of the best backs entering the pros in years. He is rated on par with the Rams' Todd Gurley, or perhaps even better because he doesn't have a history of knee surgery.

Most rating services have Elliott being picked in the top 10. The Browns are drafting No. 8. It could add up to Elliott in an orange helmet. I know the Browns like him, but have no idea if they have him rated in the top 10.

Given the recent history of Jackson's offenses, the Browns need a major upgrade in their running game. That's why I expect them to draft at least one running back to compete with Isaiah Crowell and Duke Johnson.

Want to know one of the main reasons why Andy Dalton improved in his two years with Jackson calling the plays for the Bengals? They ran the ball.

RUN THE BALL

In 2014, Jackson took over as Cincinnati's offensive coordinator. Here's a look at the pass/run balance for the Bengals' play calling in the last two years:

• 2014: 503 passes, 492 runs.
• 2015: 505 passes, 467 runs.

So you can see that Jackson jacked up the running game, making it 54 percent passes compared to 46 percent runs. That's a nice balance.

Here also is what Jackson told the Cincinnati media not long after taking over as offensive coordinator in 2013: "To me, running the ball is the nuts and bolts of your offense."

Guess what job Jackson had the Bengals in 2013? He was the running backs coach.

Jackson has had some good running backs, but not great ones. His top two in 2014-15 were Jeremy Hill and Giovani Bernard.

Here's an amazing stat: In 2015, the Browns scored a grand total of 25 touchdowns (five rushing). The Bengals scored 49 touchdowns (18 rushing).

Meanwhile, the Browns have been a quarterback-challenged team that relies too much on the pass.

1. The Bengals ranked No. 7 (2015) and No. 6 (2014) in rushing attempts in his two years calling plays.

2. The Browns ranked No. 27 (2015) and No. 17 (2014).

3. In 2015, the Browns threw 609 passes compared to 380 runs. That's 63 percent passes to 37 percent runs.

4. When Jackson was the head coach/play caller of the Oakland Raiders in 2011, it was 524 passes to 466 runs. So he works to have a decent pass/run split.

WENTZ AND ANALYTICS

I was talking to an executive who is not firmly in the analytics camp, but certainly knows all the basics. His team is not looking for a quarterback. He told me that the analytics would not favor North Dakota State's Carson Wentz, but not for some reasons that I thought.

1. His age. He is 23, on the old side for college quarterback. Connor Cook is the same age. So it's not a huge deal, but they factor it into the equation.

2. Top-rated quarterback prospect Jared Goff is only 21, and that impresses analytics people.

3. Now, you take the age of Wentz (23) and add into the discussion that he has only 23 college starts -- that is a warning sign. He is an older prospect who simply hasn't played that much college football.

4. By comparison, the 21-year-old Goff has started 37 games for California. Cook is 23, but he started 39 games at Michigan State. Another projected first-round quarterback is 22-year-old Paxton Lynch, who started 38 games for Memphis.

5. The point is that Goff, Cook and Lynch started far more games than Wentz, and they played at a higher level of college football.

6. There are exceptions. Joe Flacco was 23 when drafted by Baltimore. He had only 26 starts at Delaware, a school that plays the same level of football as North Dakota State. Wentz also played in a pro-style offense, Flacco did not. So that is an advantage for Wentz.

7. In the end, the analytics would say it made sense for the Browns to trade the No. 2 to Philadelphia, which plans to draft Wentz. As Browns V.P. Sashi Brown said, "We feel good about the fact that what could have been a bet on one player now becomes a bet on four (because of the additional draft picks)."

OTHER RUNNING BACKS

1. By far, OSU's Elliott is the best running back prospect in the draft. Virtually every scouting service says as much. They all could be wrong. But his ability to not only run, but catch passes and block are attributes not found in other players.

2. Alabama's Derrick Henry is rated as a second-round pick. He had a monster season, rushing for 2,219 yards and 28 touchdowns. He's huge at 6-foot-5, 247 pounds. He carried the ball 32 times a game in 2015 when Alabama played SEC games, so coach Nick Saban really trusted the Heisman Trophy winner. But I don't trust Alabama running backs, who seem to benefit greatly from all the talent around them.

3. Since 2010, Alabama has had two running backs picked in the first round (Mark Ingram and Trent Richardson), and two in the second round (Eddie Lacy and T.J. Yeldon). Only Lacey has had a 1,000-yard rushing season.

4. Some scouts like Utah's Devontae Booker, but he's coming off meniscus knee surgery. He is considered a good receiver out of the backfield. It seems the Browns already have a player like Booker. That's Duke Johnson, a gifted pass-catching back.

Michigan State's Jack Conklin, Ohio State's Taylor Decker and Indiana's Jason Spriggs could all be first-round picks Thursday. Watch video

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Here's a prediction for Thursday in the 2016 NFL Draft: The Big Ten will have three offensive tackles drafted in the first round for the first time since 1963.

The league can produce linemen. In 10 of the last 17 years, a Big Ten tackle has been been drafted in the first round. Michigan's Jake Long went No. 1 in 2008. Iowa's Robert Gallery went No. 2 in 2004. In 2007, Wisconsin's Joe Thomas went No. 3 to the Browns and Penn State's Levi Brown went No. 5. In 2014, Michigan's Taylor Lewan went No. 11 to Tennessee.

But in Michigan State's Jack Conklin, Ohio State's Taylor Decker and Indiana's Jason Spriggs, the Big Ten could have its best trio of NFL prospects in more than 50 years. Decker and Conklin are projected by almost every draft analyst as first-round picks (though I contend there's a chance Decker could fall to the second round), and Spriggs' athletic showcase at the NFL Combine gives him a real chance to move into the back of the first round.

That's a good sign for the Big Ten.

While Michigan State's Connor Cook and Penn State's Christian Hackenberg will try to become the first Big Ten quarterback drafted in the first round since 1995, first-round tackles are another sign of conference talent.

You want fast receivers and elite cover corners and run-and-chase linebackers, and quarterbacks, to compete at the highest level in college football. But tackles? Yes, you also need top-shelf left tackles.

These guys are three of them.

Conklin is a former walk-on at Michigan State who developed into a first-team All-American in 2015, then declared for the draft as a junior.

"It's crazy just to see how far I've come," Conklin said at the combine. "It's hard to think about, going from four years ago of having no idea if I was going to be on a Division I team. It's hard to take in how far I've come as a person and a player.''

Decker was a three-year starter at Ohio State and a leader of the slobs as the Big Ten's offensive lineman of the year in 2015. He could have turned pro as a junior but came back as an OSU captain. He wasn't the most athletic lineman at the combine, but he's a mauler with good technique who should start as a rookie.

"I don't think anybody would want to come in and be like, 'Oh, I'll ride the bench for a couple years.' I want to come in immediately," Decker said at the combine. "I want to be a starter. I don't want to just be a player that, 'we can survive with him.'

"I want to provide value for a team and be an asset and not a guy who's kind of dead weight. That's a huge goal to have. It's going to be very difficult to do. It's something I'm going to pursue and chase and hopefully accomplish."

Spriggs is a four-year starter from Indiana who crushed the testing at the combine. A bit of an athletic freak, he ran a 4.94 40-yard dash and did 31 reps on the bench press, besting Conklin and Decker in both categories.

He isn't projected as a first-rounder by many analysts, but the guess here is that those numbers, plus the fact that he started 47 career games in a power conference, makes a team grab him late in the first. 

"I describe myself as more of an athletic lineman than most. I use that to my strength," Spriggs said at the combine. "I definitely want to show I can be a fit in any scheme. With the offense we run at Indiana, we kind of do everything. I can fit wherever."

Here's a breakdown on all three players. In the last 40 years, the Big Ten has seen two tackles drafted in the first round five times. There's a good shot at that.

All three? Watch for that Thursday, and see if the Big Ten can produce three first-round tackles for the first time since Michigan State's Ed Budde, Ohio State's Bob Vogel and Ohio State's Daryl Sanders 53 years ago.

Michigan State's Jack Conklin

Combine measurements: 6-foot-5, 308 pounds

Combine numbers: 5.00 40-yard dash, 25 bench press reps, 30-inch vertical jump, 7.63 cone drill (agility), 4.57 shuttle (quickness)

Honors: 2015 first-team All-American, 2015 first-team All-Big Ten, 2014 second-team All-Big Ten.

Draft projection: No. 18 to Indianapolis (SI.com), No. 15 to Tennessee (Dane Brugler), No. 10 to NY Giants (Robert Klemko)

The buzz around Jack Conklin is real. Don't think he goes to the 49ers, but he's getting top 10 talk from my contacts

-- Matt Miller (@nfldraftscout) April 22, 2016

Ohio State's Taylor Decker

Combine measurements: 6-foot-7, 310 pounds

Combine numbers: 5.23 40-yard dash, 20 bench press reps, 29-inch vertical jump, 7.64 cone drill (agility), 4.77 shuttle (quickness)

Honors: 2015 first-team All-American, 2015 Big Ten offensive lineman of the year, 2015 first-team All-Big Ten, 2014 second-team All-Big Ten.

Draft projection: No. 15 to Tennessee (SI.com), No. 16 to Detroit (Dane Brugler), No. 26 to Seattle (Robert Klemko)

Todd McShay: Colts can't pass on Ohio State's OT Taylor Decker https://t.co/4h5UIIN51h

-- Mike Wells (@MikeWellsNFL) April 21, 2016

Indiana's Jason Spriggs

Combine measurements: 6-foot-5 1/2, 301 pounds

Combine numbers: 4.94 40-yard dash, 31 bench press reps, 31 1/2-inch vertical jump, 7.70 cone drill (agility), 4.40 shuttle (quickness).

Honors: First-team All-American, second-team All-Big Ten in 2014.

Draft projection: No. 46 to Detroit in second round (SI.com), No. 26 to Seattle (Dane Brugler), No. 30 to Carolina (Robert Klemko)

My Top 5 OTs for the #NFLDraft
1) Laremy Tunsil MISS
2) Ronnie Stanley ND
3) Jason Spriggs IU
4) Taylor Decker OST
5) Jack Conklin MCHST

-- Anthony Becht (@Anthony_Becht) April 19, 2016